Double inlet blower wheel



A. w. EVANS 2,315,407

DOUBLE INLET BLOWER WHEEL March 30, 1943.

Filed April 8, 1 942 m m E V N I G F ADDISON W. EVANS Patented Mar. 30, 1943 umrao STATE This invention relates to improvements in doua reduction of number of parts and simplification of assembly of a double inlet centrifugal blower wheel. I v r l i More particularly stated with respect to pres-l ently preferredembodiments, the invention. is objectively embodied in ablower wheel of a type shaped, and in which'the single body element is characterized by, say, a pair of rows of peripheral blade elements and apertures, and in which wheel the body is intermediately mounted or supported for rotation about anaxial element such as a shaft. v v

Yet another object of the invention is attained forming body for a centrifugal wheel, to acenter plate or spider, through connection of the peripheral portion of the spider to an intermediate portion of the body. r

- An additional and important object of the in- 1 vention is found in improvedrneans for assembling' a double-row, bladed rotor bodyto a central mounting spider therefor, and which securely anchors the body against any radial displacetions the bladed body against any longitudinal or axial displacement with respect to the central mounting plate or spider.

Another object maybe stated construction for the purposes and with the adwheel are themselves formed into interlocking assembled securement to produce an unusually rigquiring the use of rivets, screws, bolts, welding or other extraneous fastening expedients.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments,

the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away to show the interior construction |ble inlet blower wheels, and more particularly to blower wheels of double inlet types characterized in which the blade-forming body of thewheel is or may be constructed of a single strip or sheet of material capable of being readily formed and in an improved assembly ofa, one-piece blade- Y The present invention has as a general object, I

- of the, metal, the metal between such lines being as attained in a vai'itages noted, in which the elements of the id wheel structure, and without necessariiy re-l conditions wherein it is desirable to admit air to particularly when considered in connection with I of :a double end blower wheel characterized 'by a unitary'body portion and exemplifying the present invention: Fig; 2 is a vertical elevation, partly insection as taken along staggered planes ssindicated by lineI-Zof Fig 1; Fig.i3'is an" exploded view, partlyin section, showing peripheralxportion's of each of the maior elements of the wheellin; their relation Just prior to assemblyyFlg. 4.13 anexpioded view similarto Fig.

3, but showing the same elements after assembly:

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionalview in a-plane through the-axis of the'wheel'but showing-a slightly m ed form of beaded .or crimped' connection between the peripheryof a central 'spi der,- and an intermediate portion of the body,- and 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but'showing a still further modified formof structure for aswnblr of he l spider and body. 7

Referring now by characters of reference "to the drawing, the example disclosed includes a body-forming portionof substantially cylindrical shape, indicated generally at l0.-

turned-or formed out of the then flat or cylindrical plane of the body sheet 'to constitute. a

memorials-9;; ment I0 is initially comprised of a strip :of sheet series of parallel blades II.. It will appear-from the drawing that the body II is imperforate'in ments, and hence for amore complete description a zone Just beyond the'ends of the blades, there Y remainingon each lateral margin of the body strip. 1 stantially in I ment either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the periphery of the spider, and as well |p0siv thereof reference is directed to Letters Patent #2,23L062 of the present applicant, issued February l1, 1941, and entitled Centrifugal blow- The present improvements relate principally to centrifugal blower wheels of those types in which 1 a bodypf unitary or one-piece typ is assembled in a central or intermediate zone thereofto a shaft-mounted spider which may bein the form A of a center plate. Wheels ofthis broad category find a considerable demand in the tradelunder will appear from the l drawing, the bladed body I is accordingly formed with two rows of blades II and with one or two of the cylindrically planar imperforate margins 82 at the inside ends of and between the two rows of blades as will readily appear from Figs. 3 and 4, and which zone is utilized, as will hereinafter be more fully described, for sec'urement of the unitary body to the center plate. i

The plate or spider shown, has been so developed that when formed in any usual gaugeso'f sheet metal, it exhibits a high resistance to deformation, and hence servesfadmirably to retain the true cylindrical'shapeland initial balance of the wheel. The mounting plate presently-illustrated-,

is the subject of and claimed in Letters Patent #2,272,695 issued February 10, 1942,:to this. ape

fcent'rifugal blower wheel";

plicant, and entitled b V I structure. It may be noted principally-for pres ent completeness, that this assembly includes a hub l3 provided with a set screw! 4 and-shaft aperture IS. The hub I3 is provided with a partly conical plate-seating face l6, against which bears a correspondingly .sha-ped portion l I of the centerplate. Extending inwardly from the portion 11 of the plate is a flange I8 which is closely embraced by a spunover or upset lip portion=l9 constituting initially any extension of the hub II. The engagement of portions l9 and I8 is such that the plate is securely positioned in a'plane transverse to the axis'of hu-b rotation, and firmly held against anyaxial. or angular displacement. By preference also the center plate is provided,-'- for rounded, e erior1y""presented 4 of-.which results in an inwardly' open channel rigidity, with a plurality shown as four) of ribi like protuberances 25. These are tapered in section as appears from Fig. 2, and extend outwardly to, and merge into an annular truss'and seat-forming portion 26. The portion 26 is so shapedthat its outer surface 21 is arcuate or cylindrical, and in assembly lies closely parallel to the inner portions]! of the bladed body I0.

Beyond the portions 26 and. 21 in the periphery of the center plate, is an upstanding flange 30, the outer portion of which is doubled or folded over on itself as shown at 3|, but the portion 3| being by preference of lesser depth than portion 30. Thisformation results in what is, in effect, a laterally undercut groove '32, this groove being annular in form and serving a purpose hereinafter better appearing. I v

"i, Referring further to the construction of the unitary body III of the wheel, either before or after formation of the body strip or sheet to its cylindrical shape, the outside lateral margins [2 thereof, are outturned to form flanges 40. These serve, as will appear, to receive in crimped embracing engagement, an end ring generally indicated'at' 4 I located at each of the open ends 01 the wheel. The end rings are also provided with outstanding flanges 42 which, in assembly, are

turnedinwardly, thence downwardly into overlying and closely embiacing relation to the flanges 40, and'in such manner that the inturned ends 43 serve as abutments to prevent any outward radial displacement of the margins of the body, in coaction of course with the outer extremities of the margins 40 in engagement with,

the bight of each folded portion of flanges 42.

while tne ood'y is in strip former after there still results plane of'the plate 64 quiring-any incisions or weakening of the intermediatezpne of the body-forming strip for this purpose." shown, the central imperiorate area indicated by the inner portions I2 is, either v its cylin- "formed by, rollih'g ,or any other wnmeans, to result-in an outwardly lll ar portion 45, in"th"e nature or a head, the shaping meal was, suitable n r extendin ticularly with the undercut seat or groove '32, to

enable the body to be deformed in these zones into firm and permanent assembly with the plate.

pedient for attachment ofyfthe body tothe center plate, is shown by Fig.5, whereinithcdntermediate planar zones of the wh'eeLare' indicated at 50, and the portion illfpr'ovided ;with an outwardly extending annular head or the like 5 i, re sulting in groove 52. In this form, the-v folded portions 53 and 54 are more rounded in form but beneath the portion '54, the laterally presentedgroove corresponding generallyto the groove "(Figs 3 and 4) A further minor modification is illustrated by Fig. 8, wherein .the central cylindrical planar body portion 60 is somewhat more deeply grooved to form an annular bead 6| receiving the folded flange elements 62 and 63. In this modification it will be observed that portion 62 is displaced somewhat in a direction laterally of the major so that there result two laterally presented shouldered portions similar to the undercut groove 32, and corresponding generally in purpose thereto. The manner of assembly of the bladed body to the spider in each of the modifications is sufiiciently similar to that characterizing the assemblyv of parts shown by Figs. 3 and 4, that a separate description there- 4i, and with the flanges 40 and 42in close parallel adiacence. Following this the now extend- 1 ing portions of flanges 42 are brought inwardly,

The presentillust'ration ,is of a small diameter double inlet center plate wheel in which it is not necessary that the rings 4| have any direct shaft support. In larger'j types of wheel it may of course be desirable, as is contemplated, to utilize a form of ring in each of the end zones of the wheel, which is provided with a hub and spoke elements (not shown), it being understood then downwardly into close parallel overlying relation to the flanges 40, from which it will appear that the inturned parts of the end ring serve distinctly as truss members in supporting and maintaining the truly circular aspect of the outer margins of the body.

With the periphery of the center plate formed as shown by Fig. 3, the center plate and body may l It will have appeared be brought into assembly relation with the flange 30 and portion 3| seated and bottoming in the groove 45. Following this, by suitable rolling equipment or otherwise as desired, the bead 44 in or near its zones of juncture with the adjacent body portion I2, is crimped to bring these portions into the laterally presented annular groove such as 32. It will now clearly appear that the parts are assembled in such manner that any inward radial deformation of the body is impossible because of its firm support by the arcuate seat 21 which in turn is truss-supported by the underlying elements of the annular conformity 28 of the plate. Any outward displacement of the center part of the body is impossible because of the interlocking engagement of the metal of the bead t in the groove 32.

The manner of assembly of the wheel to the shaft, as by extension of the shaft'through hub opening l5 and threading up of setscrew l4 will scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention: 1. A centrifugal blowenwheel including an integral, bladed sheet metal body of substantially cylindrical form, a center plate provided with substantiallywide, arcuate truss-supported shoulder portions just inwardly of its periphery, and formed iustoutwardly of said shoulder portions, with arcuately'grooved seating portions in which the groove is laterally presented, the metal of the body intermediate itslength, having a doubled portion extending into and substantially filling said grooved portions, and radially inwardly thereof, lying closely adjacent to said shoulder portions.

2. A centrifugal blower wheel including a bladed body formed of a strip of metal shaped to constitute the blades and endmargins, a mounting plate having a portion inwardly of but near its periphery, formed to provide a wide, cylindrical body seat, an annular truss portion supportin: said body seat, and a doubled flange portion projecting radially outwardly of said seat, the

body being provided in a central zone, with a combined stiffening and securement groove extended away from the normal cylindrical plane of the adiacentportions of the body, said groove body-seating surface slightly inwardly of the being assembled into gripping relation with the peripheral flangeof thespi'der, and with the center zone of the body metal supported by said cylindrical seat of thespider.

3. The eleifierits and combination as recited by claim 2, further characterized in that the blower wheel is entirely open at both ends, and the body supported solely in an intermediate zone by crimping of said groove portion to said flange portion of the spider. 1

4. In a centrifugal blower wheel, a body of integral construction formed to provide two spaced rows of blades and open for air inlet purposes at both of its ends, a center plate adapted to receive a shaft for rotatablysupporting the wheel thereon, thecenter plate being provided with a truss-supported, substantially cylindrical plate periphery, the body being crimped in an intermediate zone to a portion of the plate periphery adjacent said cylindrical seating portion, and the'plate being formed to provide a plurality of radial prctuberances in the nature of spokelike reinforcing portions having their origin close to the shaft-engaging portion of the plate, thence extending outwardly to, and merging into the cylindrical body-seating portion of the plate, the

1 body being crimped into securement with portions of the plate lying just outwardly of said cylindrical seating portion.

5. In a centrifugal blower wheel, a body of integral construction formed to provide two spaced rows of blades and open for air inlet purposes at both of its ends, a center plate adapted to receive a shaft for'rotatably supporting the wheel thereon, the center plate being provided with an axially wide groove of substantially 0 Shape in section, the outermost part of which constitutes a cylindrical seat for a cylindrical center portion of the .body, the inner portion of the groove constituting an annular truss for supporting the seat, said groove being located slightly inwardly of the plate periphery, the body being crimped in an intermediate zone to a portion of the plate periphery adjacent said cylindrical seat, and the plate being formed to provide a plurality of radial protuberances in the'nature of spoke-like reinforcing portions having their origin close to the shaft-engaging portion of the plate, thence extening outwardly to, and merging into the cylindrical body-seatingportion of the plate, the body being crimped into securement with portions of the plate lyingiust outwardly of said cylindrical seating portion.

ADDISON W. EVANS. 

